Martin Rennie is a strong advocate of the importance of the role that psychology plays in sport.

Whether it be the way that individual players are handled within the system or the manner in which the team as a whole approaches each game the Whitecaps’ coach was keen to stress this particular aspect of his managerial style from day one of his arrival at the club.

This philosophy clearly worked well in the first half of the season, as a group of players that had suffered disappointment and disillusion last year began the new campaign with a bounce to their step and a clear enthusiasm to work for a coach that not only had a plan but could communicate how that plan should be implemented in a fashion that was clear to both players and supporters alike.

Then, suddenly in the summer, the lines of communication became tangled.

Whatever any of us may think about the rights and wrongs of the numerous changes that were made in that time period the end result was that Rennie’s vision became less clear, with fans being uncomfortably reminded of an inaugural season that saw the Front Office push the panic button with a hasty coaching change that was neither warranted nor wanted.

But in recent weeks the focus has changed once again; from a sense of turbulence to a sense of trepidation.

Where once FC Dallas were a mere speck in the rear view mirror as the Whitecaps pushed for the play-offs they have now transformed into a threatening presence looming large on the tail and the more the gap has narrowed the more nervous Vancouver appear and, now that the barrier between the two teams is a slim two points the standings, the more the table becomes weighed down with meaning.

There is a real sense that if Dallas move ahead in the points total then there will be no clawing it back for a Whitecaps team that has turned thinking too much into an art form and that’s why this weekend’s games are so crucial.

Dallas face a very tough visit to San Jose and Vancouver are at home to their Cascadian rivals Seattle.

On paper this a chance for the Whitecaps to increase the gap and give themselves a little more breathing room but if that doesn’t happen and if, in the nightmare scenario, Dallas win and Vancouver doesn’t then what was once a speck in the mirror could soon become a distant blur on the horizon.

The remaining games of the season aren’t about Martin Rennie trying to perfect the intricacies of individual psychology; they are about him trying to control the broad brush strokes of collective confidence and its absence.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the “X” in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.